VMARK Vietnam Design Week 2026

Professor Lau is the current Pro-Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Swinburne Sarawak. He has over 18 years of extensive experience in teaching, research, and leadership at higher education level. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil Engineering and a PhD from the Oxford Brookes University, UK, and a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching from Curtin University. He is also a Professional Engineer with practicing certificate registered with the Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM) and a Chartered Professional Engineer with Engineers Australia (EA). Professor Lau’s expertise is in cold- formed steel construction with broader research interests in construction waste management and sustainable development. He has published many journal papers, conference papers, book chapters and conference proceedings, and technical articles in these research areas.

Ms. Lynn Wang, passionate about the organic lifestyle, sees herself as a LOHAS, low on carbon footprints and big on sustainability. In 2012, Ms. Lynn Wang jointly initiated the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards for Elite with the theme ‘Celebrating Creativity’, which has become one of the most important design awards in the Chinese community. Ms. Lynn Wang has dedicated herself to providing Chinese and international designers with a platform for communication and cooperation.

Cung Thanh Dat was born in 1982 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. He studied for master of architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH Zurich). Since 2009, he has worked with Professor Dietmar Eberle who directed the internationally acclaimed company of Baumschlager Eberle Architekten which currently has 29 offices around the world in 15 countries. He was studied at Design Workshops, was a Jury member, speaker, and advisor in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Hong Kong... In 2011, Mr Cung Thanh Dat was CEO and became a Partner of Baumschlager Eberle Architekten Vietnam. In 2015 he became the partner of Baumschlager Eberle Architekten Holding. Currently he holds the position Director of Business Development in Asia. Mr Cung Thanh Dat is a member of The Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA).

With over 36 years of experience, Mr. Trung has been operating the interior design office of TTT Architects since 1992 with more than 1,000 completed projects and many national architecture awards. In 2020, he holds the position of Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Architects Association and oversees the organization of the annual CPD seminars on professional development for architects. Moreover, he is a speaker and researcher in many fields of architecture, as well as interior with valuable sharing at many seminars and in specialized journals.

Professor Do is an accomplished executive leader with extensive experience and consummate achievements in multiple internationally recognised and awarded-winning global research and scholarship. The teaching programs and projects he leads have sustained a record of success in attracting local, state, federal and international backing through numerous funding sources. Award-winning senior-level professional and educator with experience as a director, executive and lead of public and private sectors in university-wide and professional communities for over 20 years. A highly analytical decision-maker in the methodology of creative systems thinking. Experienced in establishing and implementing strategic plans for turning around challenging and complex situations to deliver positive operational outcomes, along with a proven history of increasing productivity and impact value scalability. A highly self-motivated trailblazer who consistently wins highly competitive large grant funding with impactful education programs locally and internationally. Seasoned executive with in-depth knowledge of emerging global pedagogy in international education and commercial market opportunities, having established academic and industry relationships across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Hames Sharley’s National Head of Design Education in Practice, Professor Do, leads the design knowledge development, supporting the best practices with the approach of a scholarly in-practice design research methodology.

Steve Van Aelst believes in creating meaningful and captivating places. Embracing complexity and challenges set, providing simple, elegant design solutions with a clear and strong vision. Educated in Belgium with a Master’s degree in Architecture and Management, Steve moved from Belgium to UAE in 2007 and to Asia in 2010. He co-founded, together with his Business partner Tony Nguyen, Van Aelst I Nguyen & Partners in 2015 with offices in Belgium and Vietnam. Over the last years, Van Aelst I Nguyen and Partners had the opportunity working with various high-profile clients for various type mixed-use commercial and hospitality mid- to large-scale award-winning high-profile projects.

Ms. Danh Tran is a Vice President of VDAS Design Association and Founder of VMARK Vietnam Design Award. She graduated from the university with a major in Brand & Communication Design and has trained in many countries around the world in skills to develop the national creative industry. With over 20 years of management experience in the design industry, she has in-depth knowledge of the different creative segments and aims to nurture the next generation of Vietnamese designers.

Born in 1979 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. Professor of Kyoto University of the Arts. Winner of international competitions for Tran Hung Dao Bridge and Saigon River footbridge. Previously a partner at Vo Trong Nghia Architects.